ISU, Butler see enrollment recovery underway
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As universities and colleges resume for the fall semester, it appears some of the institutions have turned the corner when it comes to post-pandemic enrollment recovery. Indiana State University and Butler University are both reporting increases in freshman enrollment levels.
ISU is reporting 2,544 new students, including a freshman class of 1,535. That’s a 7% increase over 2021-22.
“This shows that our recruitment strategies are working,” said ISU President Deborah Curtis. “We have been proactive in creating initiatives and responding to the changing landscape of higher education.”
Indiana State says its Honors College has 307 new freshman, a 21% increase over last year.
Meanwhile, Butler University says more than 1,200 first-year students started classes this week, an increase of more than 6% over last year. It’s also the third-largest incoming class in the school’s history.
Butler says with the dwindling number of seniors graduating from Indiana high schools over the past several years, it has put more emphasis on recruiting out-of-state students. The university says it invested more money into marketing and hiring admissions representatives.
“Butler University’s brand awareness and academic reputation are growing both regionally and nationally,” said Jerry Dueweke, director of admission. “There are a number of contributing factors, including a No. 1 ranking in US News & World Report’s list of top Midwest Universities and the national exposure that comes with competing in the BIG EAST athletics conference.”
Butler says more than 53% of its incoming class is from out of state, including international students from 14 countries. Illinois sent the most students from out of state to Butler.